Gate operating mechanism



5. H. FOX

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Sept. 6, 1950 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 S. H. FOX

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Sept. 26, 1947 Inventor Atlorney;

s. H. FOX

GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor M S I m m X om T m F; o E T A e Sept. 2 1950 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 4 She8ts..s t 4 Inve Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GATE OPERATING MECHANISM Sherman H. Fox, Silver City, N. Mex.

Application September 26, 1947, Serial No. 776,193

7 Claims. 1

This vehicle relates to a vehicle wheel-actuated mechanism for unlatching and opening and then unlatching and closing a horizontally swinging gate or other closure, respectively when the vehicle approaches and leaves the gate or closure from either side thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above kind for use in connection with a gate which swings open in only one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in operation, and otherwise adapted to meet the requirements for successful commercial use.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as other objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partlyin elevation and partly broken away and. in section, showing a gate provided with gate operating mechanism embodying the present invention, the gate being in open position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2', showing th gate in closed position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1. v

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 'I'I of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line.l-I0 of Figure 1.

' Figure 11 is anenlarged perspective view of the stop element for limiting turning movement of the vertical rock shaft forming part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. V

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line I2-I 2 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, indicates a gate which is hingedly mounted at one end for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis between the closed position of Figure 4 and the open position of Figure 2. As shown, the gate is mounted bya pair of hinge elements 6 which are in vertically spaced relation, and each-of which includes a split clamp I snugly embracing a vertical gate postB and a divided bearing 9 embracing a vertical end member of gate 5 beneath a collar II] provided on said end member. The bearing 9 is adjustable relative to the clamp I to permit proper hanging of the gate to insure efficient operation of its latching means which will be later described. For this purpose, the bearing 9 has an arm II bolted at I2 between end extensions of the clamp I as shown in Figure 9, one of the bolts l2 extending through an elongated slot I3 of arm II to provide the desired adjustment. The gate post 8 may be of tubular form and telescoped at its lower end onto the upper end of a short supporting post I4 suitably fixed to and rising from a base plate I5 bolted at I6 upon a foundation base I! of concrete imbedded in the ground.

Pivoted at I8 between its ends to the other end of the gate 5 is a vertical latch bar I9 adapted to coact with keepers 20 of further gate posts 2| and 22 to respectively latch the gate in open and closed positions. It is particularly noted that the gate swings in only one direction to open position and in the oppositedirection to closed position. Each gate post 2 I and 22 has a vertical elongated slot as indicated by'dotted lines at 23, the associated keeper 20 having a threaded stem 24 vertically adjustable in and extending through the slot 23 and having nuts 25 threaded thereon at opposite sides of the gate post to horizontally adjust and to secure the keeper in vertically adjusted position. Each keeper is of bifurcated form with one leg shorter than the other as shown clearly in Figure 10, the longer leg acting as a stotp to properly limit swinging movement of the ga e;

A vertical rock shaft 26 is journalled beneath the hinged end of the gate coincident with the swinging-axis of the latter, said shaft being mounted in'bearings 21 and 28 respectively fixed in the cover plate 29 of a housing 30 and within and upon the bottom of said housing. I

The housing bottom is formed by the plate I5.

' A past-center device operatively connects the rock shaft 26 with the gate 5 so as to close the latter when-the rock shaft 26 is turned in one direction and to open the same when said rock shaft is turned in theopposite direction. This past center device includes a guide 3| fixed to and depending from the bottom rail of the gate 5, a lever 32 fixed on the upper end ofthe rock shaft 26, a rod 33 pivoted at one end to the lever 32 and slidably extending through the guide 3|, an abutment-34 on the rod 33, and a helical gatemoving compression spring 35 on the rod 33 between the abutment 34 and the guide 3|. Turning movement of shaft 26 is properly limited in opposite directions by means of a stop member 36 arranged in the path of lever 32 and having a sleeve 31 fitted over and secured to the bearing 21. It will be noted that the arm 32 is able in an are which permits passage of the pivot 38 between lever 32 and rod 33 to opposite sides of the gate near the hinged end of the latter. Also, when the lever 32 is so moved, the spring 35 is placed under compression for moving the gate from open to closed position or vice versa, depending upon the position in which the gate then happens to be. The guide 3| is preferably clamped as at 39 on the gate for adjustment toward and from the shaft 26 soas to adjust the compression of spring 35 to the proper point wherein said spring is always under some compression. Of course, as the gate moves from one position to another, the compression of spring 35 is gradually relieved so that the gate will gently come to rest in the new position without any noticeable shock or jar.

. The invention includes means operated by shaft 26 for releasing the latch element l9 from the active keeper 2!! when said rock shaft is turned in either direction. As shown, such means includes an actuating rod 40 pivoted at one end to the lower end of latch element H! as at 4| andloosely slidably extending through suitable guides 42 fixed to and depending from the bottom rail of gate 5. The rod 40 extends to a point adjacent the shaft 26 where it is provided with an antifriction roller 43 arranged in the path of a cam 44 provided upon the end of lever 32 which is secured upon the shaft 26. The arrangement is such that when the lever 32 is swung in either direction to place the spring 35 under compression, cam 44 moves rod 40 longitudinally so as to swin latch element |9 to released position. The latch element i9 is normally spring projected to latching. position by means of a compression spring 45, encircling rod 40 between one of the guides 42 and an abutment 46 secured on said rod 40. A loop 4'! carried by the gate 5 braces the upper end of latch element l9 and limits its projecting movement.

Wheel-actuated trip levers 48 and 49 are located at the ground on opposite sides of the gate, and connecting means is provided which operatively connects said trip levers with the rock shaft 26-, whereby movement of either trip lever toward the other will effect opening of the gate and movement of either trip lever away from the other will effect closing of the gate. This connecting means includes a gear 50 secured on the rock shaft 26, a horizontal longitudinally movable operating rod 5| having a rack 5| intermediate its ends meshed with the gear 50, yokes 52- and 53 secured on the ends of said operating rod 5|, a lateral arm at 52 on the trip lever 48 entering the yoke 52, and an operating lever 55 geared at 56 at one end to the trip lever 49 and having a lateral arm at 5'! entering the yoke 53. The levers 48,49 and 55 are pivoted to depending members 58; carried by the cover plates 59 of casings 60 and 6| imbedded in the ground. The ends of rod 5| enter the housings 60 and 6| and have the yokes 52 and 53 secured thereon within said housings. These yokes are preferably bolted to the rod 5| as at 62 for adjustment longitudinally of the latter so as to bring about the proper operative relationship between said yokes and the arm 54 and 51. Also, the rod 5| extends through guides 63 and into guides 64 closed at their outer ends and secured in the outer ends of the housings 6D and 6| by cap nuts 54', the ends of rod 5i being squared and entering squared bores of the guides 64 to prevent turning of the rod 5|, as shown clearly in Figure 12. The arrangement is such that when lever 48 or lever 55 is swung in one direction, the lateral arm 54 or 5? will engage one end of the associated yoke 52 or 53 to shift the rod 5| in one direction, while swinging movement of lever 48 or lever 55 in the opposite direction will cause the lat-eral arm 54 or 5'! to engage the other end of the associated yoke 52 or 53 for moving rod 5| in the opposite direction. Between the housing 38 and each of the housings 6|! and 6|, the rod 5| may be enclosed in suitable conduits or tubes 55 connected at their ends to said housings. The purpose is to provide against the entrance of moisture and to properly make provision for placing lubricant in the housings to lubricate the moving parts therein. Each of the housings 6E! and 6| may have a central partition 66 extending upwardly to the cover plate 59 so as to brace the latter against breakage when subjected tothe weight of a vehicle wheel passing thereover. The trip levers extend through slots 59 in cover plates 59.

It will be noted that each of the levers 48 and 49 is of inverted substantially. U-shape and has a roller 61 journalled on the upper intermediate portion thereof so as to promote ease of movement of the vehicle wheel over the trip lever. Also, eachlateral arm 54, and 51 consists of a spindle having a roller 58 journalled thereon'to provide for anti-friction contact between said arm and the associated yoke 52 or 53. As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the lever 48 is pivoted upon the ends of a pivot pin 69 extending through and projecting beyond opposite ends of the member 58. A torsion spring ll] encircles the pin 69 at one end of member 58 and has one of its ends engaged with a pin'll fixed to member 58 and its other end engaged with a pin 72 fixed to the adjacent arm of trip lever 48. The arrangement is such as to normally yieldingly hold the trip lever 48 in a vertical position. A similar arrangement is provided for the lever 49 and the parts of such arrangement for both trip levers are indicated by similar reference characters. Lever 55 is pivoted to the adjacent side of member 58 on a pin 13 as shown in Figure 6.

Assuming that the gate is open and the parts are disposed as shown in Figure 1, and that a vehicle approaches the trip lever 49 from the right of such figure, the operation maybe briefly stated as follows: 1

A vehicle wheel runs against, and over trip lever 49 so as to swing the same to the left of Figure 1 and the lever 55 tothe left thereof. This will have no effect because the yoke53 has been previously shifted with the rod 5| to the left. As the vehicle proceeds, the :wheel contacts lever 48 and swings it to the left of Figure 1 so, that lateral arm 54 engages yoke 52 and moves rod 5| to the right of the :figure; Through the gearing 50, 5|, shaft 26 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 so as to swing lever 32 from the position of Figures 2 and '7 to the position of Figure 4.. At the same time, cam 44 moves rod 40 so as to release latch element l9. As spring 35 has been placed under compression by movement of .rod 33 through guide 3|, said spring will act to'swing the gate 5 to closed position as soon as the latch element 9 is released. Thus, closing of the gateis-effected upon passage of the vehicle past the "gate; If the gate had been closed at the start of this operation, the rod 5| would have been shifted to the right of'Figure 1' and actuation of trip lever 49 would have caused movement of said rod 51 to the left of the figure, thereby rotating gear-50 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 and swinging lever 32 from the'p'osition of Figure 4 "'to the dotted line position of Figure 2. In this way, spring 35 would be compressedand latch element i9 would be released so as to effect opening of the gate. After the vehicle has passed the gate, actuation of lever 48 will cause closing thereof. The same operationwill take place if the vehicle approaches the gate from the left'of Figure 1, leaving the gate in open position ifit should be open at the time and causing closing of the gate after passage of the vehicle beyond the gate. Also, should the gate, be closed, actuation of lever 48 would "caus'e'op'ening of the gate and subsequent actuation of leverv 49 will cause closing of said gate. In viewof thedescription of how the parts of the mechanism coact, it is believed that the operation will be evident without more detailed description. Obviously, when the gate is closed; the rod 5! will be shifted to the right of Figure 1, and when trip lever 48 is swung to the right of such .figure, it will effect the movement of rod 5! to the left of the figure so as to release and cause opening movement of the gate. In a like manner, after the vehicle passes the gate, actuation of lever 49 will-cause shifting of rod 5! to the right so as to release the gate and cause closing thereof.

From the foregoing description-it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will ,be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It. will be apparent that thedevice is very simple and compact in construction, efficient infoperation and otherwise adapted to meet with the requirements for successful commercial .use. While the preferred embodiment and structural details have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of modification and changes in details of construction without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

The partitions 66 form relatively small chambers for reception of a lubricant and in which the ends of rods 5! and other moving parts are located. The gate is easily and quickly opened and closed, and the springs '35 relieve all parts of the mechanism from shock and strain. Also, efiicient means are provided for adjusting various parts of the mechanism. 1

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is: I.

1. In combination with a gate hingedly mounted at one end for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis between a closed position and a single open position, a vertical rock shaft journalledbeneath said end of the gate coinci dent with said axis, a past-center device operatively connecting said rock shaft with the gate to close the. latter when the rock shaft is turned in one direction and to open the same when said rock shaft is turned in the opposite direction, wheel-actuated trip levers located at opposite sides of the gate, and connecting means operatively connecting said trip levers with the rock shaft whereby movement of either trip lever toward the other will set the past center device to effect opening of the gateand movement of either trip lever away from the other will set the past 6 center device to effect closing of the gate, said past center device including a guide fixed to and depending from the gate, a lever fixed on the upper end of said rock shaft, a rod pivoted at one end to said lever and slidably extending through said guide, an abutment on said rod, and a helical gate-moving compression spring on said rod between said abutment and said guide.

2. In combination with a gate hingedly mounted at one end for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis between a closed position and a single open position, a vertical rock shaft journalled beneath said end of the gate coincident with said axis, wheel-actuated trip levers located at opposite sides of the gate, connecting means operatively connecting said trip levers with the rock shaft, latching means including keepers and a coacting spring projected latch element carried by the other end of the gate for stopping and latching the latter in each of said positions, a cam on said rock shaft, and means operated by said cam forreleasing the latch element from the active keeper when said rock shaft is turned in either direction.

3. In combination with a gate hingedly mounted at one end for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis between a closed position and a single open position, a vertical rock shaft journalled beneath said end of the gate coincident with said axis, a past-center device operatively connecting said rock shaft with the gate to close the latter when the rock shaft is turned in one direction and to open the same when said rock shaft is turned in the opposite direction, said past center device including a guide fixed to and depending from the gate, a lever fixed on the upper end of said rock shaft, a rod pivoted at one end to said lever and slidably extending through said guide, an abutment on said rod, and a helical gate-moving compression spring on said rod between said abutment and said guide, wheel actuated trip levers located at opposite sides of the gate, connecting means operatively connecting said triplevers with the rock shaft whereby movement of either trip lever toward each other will set the past center device to effect opening of the gate and movement of either trip lever away from the other will set the past center device to effect closing of the gate, and a stop element coacting with said first-named lever to limit turning of the rock shaft in opposite directions.

4. In combination with a gate hingedly mounted at one end for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis between a closed position and a'single open position, a vertical rock shaft journalled beneath said end of the gate coincident with said axis, a past-center device operatively connecting said rock shaft with the gate to close the latter when the rock shaft is turned in one direction and to open the same when said rock shaft is turned in the opposite direction, said past center device including a guide fixed to and depending from the gate, a lever fixed on the upper end of said rock shaft, a rod pivoted at one end to said lever and slidably extending through said guide, an abutment on said rod, and a helical gate-moving compression spring on said rod between said abutment and said uide, wheel-actuated trip levers located at opposite sides of the gate, and connecting means operatively connecting said trip levers with the rock shaft whereby movement of either trip lever toward the other will set the past center device to effect opening of the gate and movement of either trip lever away from the other will set the past Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,523,616 September 26, 1950 SHERMAN H. FOX

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctlon as follows:

Column 1, line 1, for the Word vehicle, first occurrence, read invention;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the I same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. Signed and sealed this 23rd day of January, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gammz'ssioner of Patents. 

